Aboard Dignity (Lagoon 420) Blog

After our sail to Green Island yesterday we all spent some time cleaning Dignity as she was filthy. I have already mentioned the sand we moved away from. Well, that sand turned out to be black and it ended up covering Dignity with a sooty film. Listening to one of the SSB weather reports this morning I have learned that this was all ash from Montserrat. We had seen plenty of clouds pouring off the sides of the volcano in previous days but didn’t think ash would reach us upwind of it’s location.  If this was Montserrat ash then it must have risen to upper levels where the wind goes in an opposite direction.

Back at Green Island. Yesterday, everyone had a chance to go snorkelling on the reef. Ben and Jesse managed to spot a stingray. This was Jesse’s first experience. She was a little worried given that on the news one only hear’s the bad things about such creatures. Fortunately they were safe. I completed the online Hookah training which was mainly stuff we’d learned during our PADI training. We didn’t have time to use it as the rest of the day was spent on the head sail repair and lounging around. In the evening we watch the latest Hulk movie before all hitting the sack by 9pm.

Today we’ll move about a mile or two and anchor off a nearby reef, maybe even staying there the night.

Here are some pics from yesterday’s walk to Shirley Heights

Right now we’re anchored off Green Island on the SE side of Antigua. We discovered a tear in the head sail today so we motor-sailed here with just the main up. We’ll repair the head sail later this afternoon. Right now I’m taking the on-line hookah training course as I found an internet connection out here in the middle of nowhere. Seems I do best away from the main towns.

Shortly after arriving in Freeman Bay, Ben, Sam & Jess swam ashore to do their own thing. It didn’t take long before we noticed the boat getting covered and filled with fine sand which was blowing off the beach and elsewhere. It was horrible really so as soon as we could we shifted Dignity over to the other side of the bay. We have now lost our internet connection (darn).

We all took a walk to Shirley Heights. It’s an old artillery station about 500ft from sea level. A half mile path winds up to the top through trees with an almost jungle feel. Sam took a bit of persuading as he’d tired himself out earlier exploring the beach and rocks.

The views (in my opinion) were worth the climb. We explored the area atop the hills for a while before walking back along the road.

Back on the boat it’s curry evening. Yum.

Tomorrow we’re sailing round to the east side into Nonsuch Bay which we’ve heard is very nice. We may be a few days there gunkholing, snorkeling and hopefully using the Hookah for the first time.

We’ve moved around the corner to Freeman Bay. Managed to secure a connection so here’s some photos of English Harbour.

“Oddly enough, after living 2 months on Dignity, today was the first day of true sailing.”

Odd for sure given we put in plenty of miles sailing when my parents were visiting and we did the round trip to Nevis from St Martin. Got to stop blogging when the rum has been on the table.

No decent internet connection here so can’t go back and fix last blog. Life in the sticks.